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Lenten Reflection: The penitent thief and second chances

John B. Johnson, Program Director, Domestic Policy

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.—One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23 32; 39-43)

blog snippThe penitent thief and second chances

Luke’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross with two other “criminals” intrigues me.  When I read this Gospel, I find myself wondering about the man who made it to paradise with Jesus that day.  Because of his penitence and faith, Jesus gives him a second chance for redemption and for paradise.

I think two of the most important sentences in the English language are I’m sorry and thank you.Lent is a time of penitence and forgiveness.  The penitent thief’s story is, for me, one of the all-time best “second chances.”  I like second chances—and throughout my career, I certainly have needed them.  Second chances are part of our national character in everything from bankruptcy for businesses or individuals, to youth who make mistakes and find themselves in the juvenile justice system.  Individually or as a society, offering a second chance is a Gospel value.

One of my heroes—who I had the pleasure of meeting in person (and I even bought him a Coca-Cola)—is former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said, “No one is beyond redemption.” Forgiveness is more for us than it is for the one who may sin against us.

The opportunity to serve the ELCA in our Washington, DC Advocacy Office as the Program Director of Domestic Policy feels like a second chance for me because I served in a similar capacity with the Episcopal Church some years ago.  I left that job for new opportunities and experiences that were both wonderful, challenging and no-so-great.  What those experiences taught me, however, was that I was “operating outside of my call.” Getting back to faith-based advocacy is a great blessing for me and I love that I have an opportunity to bring second chances into my professional work.

Second Chance Reauthorization Act and Smarter Sentencing Act

Criminal justice reform is becoming a passion of mine in large measure because of my faith in redemption and second chances.  In the last Congress, several promising bi-partisan bills were introduced that would reduce the US prison population, reduce mandatory minimum requirements for non-violent drug offences and improve reentry services to reduce recidivism for the formerly incarcerated.  The Second Chance Reauthorization Act and the Smarter Sentencing Act are two key opportunities to reform our criminal justice system in the US.

  • The Second Chance Act was signed into law by George W. Bush in 2009, this legislation provides federal resources to states for reentry programs, but could do more through the reauthorization process with a number of enhancements directed at incarcerated young people—including additional mentoring programs, transitional services, and new granting opportunities.
  • The Smarter Sentencing Act makes incremental reform that allows federal judges to appropriately sentence certain non-violent drug offenders below existing mandatory minimum sentences.  The bill provides federal judges some case-by-case review of each offender to prevent overly harsh sentencing.  Finally, the bill refocuses the resulting savings into crime and recidivism prevention programs and improves transparency through public access to statutory and regulatory criminal provisions.

When legislative action begins in earnest on these important reform opportunities, I hope Lutherans and all of our Christian brothers and sisters will find their voice and call on our Senators, Representatives and the President to pass these bills.

Thank you for the opportunity to reflect and to share the ministry of advocacy with so many of you. May you have a good and reflective Lent.

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March 8, 2015– Rebuilding Detroit

Ellen Rothweiller–Ames, IA

Warm-up Question

Have you ever experienced the destruction of a place that held emotional significance for you; A home, church, school or city? What was that like and how was it different than the loss of a person?

Rebuilding Detroit

The city of Detroit, MI is being rebuilt. Many new businesses are popping up in the downtown area and there are plans for a new streetcar line that will transport people from Downtown to Midtown.  Some who fled the city are returning to be a part of the rebuilding of this great American city. There are signs of new life in Downtown Detroit, but areas outside the city center are still in decline. Housing is crumbling with many vacant buildings and lots. One part of the city booms while the rest continues to decline, making the chasm between rich and poor grow.

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Residents of these outlying areas argue that it will take more than just an infusion of money and industry in one part of Detroit to rebuild this city. Jocelyn Harris has lived in one of those “challenged” outer Detroit neighborhoods, about six miles east of downtown, all her life. “We used to have everything: department stores, grocery stores, all of it,” Harris said. “Now the sewage backs up, the park is locked, the school is closed. If we only had more repair dollars, people could have stayed here. It’s been a lot of fighting just to keep it like this.”

Developer Dan Gilbert has bought up more than 60 buildings in downtown Detroit and has been called everything from a missionary to a super hero-despite the fact that his company has been accused of aggressive sales practice. He and others insist that these pockets of wealth will succeed in rescuing the city and that this boom in economics will have a trickle-down effect on the more challenged areas of the city.

Many who care about the future of this city are working to rebuild it, but not all are in agreement on how that should happen. The decline of this city did not happen overnight, and neither will its rebirth.

 

Discussion Questions

  • What do you know about the decline of the city of Detroit? How did it happen?
  • Do you agree more with Gilbert or Harris about the best way to rebuild Detroit?
  • How does greed play a role in this situation?
  • How does hope play a role in this situation?

Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 20:1-17

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

 

This event, often described as Jesus’ cleansing of the temple, is included in all four Gospels so it is safe for us to assume that this is a key moment in Jesus’ ministry.  The temple was a place of worship and also where the community gathered. It was the hub of the Jewish culture at that time with significant spiritual and emotional ties for many. The temple where this story takes place is the second temple. The first was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.E. This second temple, constructed after the Jews returned to their land from exile in Babylonia in 539 B.C.E. was leveled by the Romans in 70 C. E. and never rebuilt.

We know that Jesus was not referring to the physical temple building, but his body in John 2:19-21, but those who heard his words that day may have felt that he was threatening to destroy this holy and significant place once again, just to prove a point!

Just as the Jews had suffered the loss of their temple and homeland, many in Detroit are feeling the loss of their city. Jesus’ claim that he could rebuild the temple in three days may have been received with the same offense that many are taking from the “trickle-down” economics being applied in Detroit. It was in part greed that got Jesus so mad about the money changers in the temple. Greed can be a powerful force in a culture and in a city and can play a part in the destruction and rebuilding of temples old and new. Ultimately this story ends with the destruction and resurrection of the temple of Jesus’ body. That is where we must place our hope and trust.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some current examples of temples that have been destroyed? (twin towers, etc.)
  • Why might it be important to rebuild those temples?
  • How might it be idolatrous to be so bound to a physical place?

Activity Suggestions

  • Google two sides of this story: “rebuilding Detroit” and “decline of Detroit”. Compare and contrast the stories told.
  • Brainstorm buildings or neighborhoods in your area that are being rebuilt. Talk to someone involved in that process and see what you can learn about that process. Was there a meeting of social and economic resources for this project? How is that working?

 

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, we thank you for your church, a place where we can gather in community. We pray for this community and for the community of Detroit. Heal what is broken in these places and people. Give us the courage to put our hope and trust in you, and not in the physical things of this world. Amen

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Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Chedza and severe flooding

Megan Brandsrud

On Jan. 16, Tropical Cyclone Chedza hit the southwestern part of Madagascar in the Menabe and Melaky regions. Heavy rainfalls followed, which caused severe flooding in most parts of the country. Approximately 174,000 people were affected by the disaster, and 80 people died.

Lutheran Disaster Response has committed an initial $35,000 and is working with the Malagasy Lutheran Church to assist 1,000 families in Morondava and Mahabo communities who were affected by the cyclone and flooding. Assistance will be for urgent food and non-food items, as well as psychosocial support. Food being distributed consists of rice, oil and beans, and non-food materials include blankets and hygiene items. Attention for distribution will be toward those who are most vulnerable, specifically families who are displaced, people with disabilities, elderly parents and female heads of households. The church will be working with people to provide support and disaster-risk training to help increase the resiliency of the communities.

Please join us in praying for the people in Madagascar who have been affected by the severe weather. We also pray for continued safety and preparedness as the cyclone season continues in the region. If you would like to support Lutheran Disaster Response’s work in Madagascar, please visit the Lutheran Disaster Response giving page.

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